kins2321@yahoo.com

Thanks all! I will try to add a dog park visit during the weekdays as well as weekends that we already do. He already gets a good walk after work, but maybe we need to go furthur. His new groomer ( his other one retired), said she would never have guessed his age. He acts like he is two. I would be THRILLED if this was just restless energy. He has always been healthy with no issues. Sean home for the week, asked him to keep an eye on the behavior I discussed. The only thing different, other then going into basement, was barking at his door at 6am. ( I am already off to work). Sophie barking at the door also! LOL I am not concerned regarding this behavior. GET UP SEAN! Nancy

Came home from work, couldnt find Ollie, let Sophie out from bird room. She was talking about Ollie... found him in the basement. He has NEVER gone there... It stressed both me and Sophie! His behavior has been unusual lately. He is eating and drinking well, but finding him in unusual places! He escaped from his runner this weekend, and jumped in my neighbors arms. He would never have done that! Nancy

Six is young. I found Sophie took off with vocab around four. She is around 15 now and is still learning Nancy

Birds may be messy, but they don't cause any smell. As Sophie has an occasional poop on rug, it is very easy to clean. Especially when dried.I also just hire a company to come in every three months to clean the rugs.I hire stanley carpet clean, they come often, and I don't worry about their fumes as I have done this for over a decade. Nancy

Bedtime seems to be very difficult for many of us! Congrads to dorian and Acappella. We suffered as well when Sophie first came home. Her complaints and excuses were equal to a simple two year old. We read to her nightly her favorite books and did so at the same hour. Eventually, we became very firm that it was bedtime and put her on the floor in front of her cage. She did climb up. As time went on with the same routine,she started putting herself to bed around four. Nancy

Home made mac and cheese for me. Simple recipe. It was recommended by my bird trimmer. When I brought Sophie and Sunny in for trimming, he pointed out a year ago how thin Sunny was getting.We had no idea how old Sunny was as he was a rescue. Paul felt he was very old, and suggested the high carb diet. Sunny loved the yogurt fed off a spoon and the mac and cheese. I did it twice a day. It was the high light of his day. As he got sicker, a little more short of breath, Paul gave me some suggestions for some recipes that didnt consume Sunny's oxygen requirements when he was trying to eat.Sunny died in my arms, surrounded by those that loved him

littleT You sound like a great parent, have insight. Separate the two, feed the poor girl that is under weight. She needs to learn to feed on her own.Give her a diet high in fat, carbs and protein. Emphasis on protein. Temporary of course. Whenever my senior birds were losing weight, they got a diet high in fat and protein. Mac and cheese when I was desperate. Yogurt loaded with fruits, proteins such as cheese. Nancy

Sophie, like my kids, LOVES cinammon toast. I learned on food network/pioneer woman, I have been making it wrong! I just toast bread, add butter sugar and cinammon and all are in heaven, including Sophie! Apparently, thats not the right way. I'm trying it her way this weekend. Nancy

We had fun! While making sure I was always " one step ahead of her" ( NOT), she decided she needs to adjust the temp on my ceramic heater. She would say " NO Sophie.... don't do it!" Then do it. Of course the little heater is in front of me and she has no interest and or is supervised with electrical cords. No interest in that, just the dial. I am frozen by Sophie Nancy

No way! This cage is huge!!! Sophie has a few cages that she likes. One is much bigger, one is smaller. She likes the smaller cage. It really doesn't matter for Sophie, as cage size means nothing.Sophie is not cage bound, and plays on her gym, waits for me to come home and then she is out in the kitchen. Her cage is for nutrition and safety. Nancy

So I am off for the week. What better way to spend a winter week on vacation, if not in the Carribean, than cleaning the house. That is my plan! Sophie LOVING my plan, and is there every minute. If not hanging on the vacumn cleaner, she is on my wrist while I am on my hand and knees with a scrub brush. Today.... she got me up at 630 am, telling me " morning". I know she is telling me to get moving! While she is not really a messy bird on the hardwood floors, she is still messy! I went to my birdstore to get her food and discovered " pooh radication". Soaked the bird poop and it was so much easier to wipe away! Nancy

I can't imagine having another grey. I think it would stress Isaac out, and I know you want him to find a buddy. We had an Amazon that was just a baby when Sophie came home. They grew up together and got along quite well. Sophie would be the boss, and Kiki would follow her lead, but when Kiki wasn't happy, Sophie gave in. Kiki was our hormonal bird, and Sophie made sure whenever Kiki was hormonal, we all took care of Kiki. Nancy

She continues to do it, if I have gym and cage connected.While she has two cages and one gym, I have squished them all together, laid out all her toys so she barely has to turn her head. I have been hearing bells ringing and toys being destroyed all week! Halleilula! Has she really been that lazy or some weird psyco thing? Nancy

While cleaning Sophies room, of course she wanted to help. Tons of toys laying on the ground. I laid down a few against her cage and jungle gym.OMG... a new Sophie! I have never seen her interested in toys, but if her gym and cage connect... she is interested! I have never seen her attack toys, bells etc. If her toys on cage, and her favorite gym connect.. she is crazy for toys! I am amazed Nancy

As the blood is gone, or dimishing, stick with the new diet and see what happens! Nancy

I have no answers as well. Just hugs too! I live in a village and pay village taxes for this kind of thing! ( they probably wouldn't help me i am thinking!) Nancy

If a baby... they do fall! They arent the best at coordination. Even though we adopted Sophie at age two, her coordination wasnt the greatest. She had a towel at the bottom of her cage. Don't freak out....they freak out, if you freak out! Just provide the safest enviroment you can Nancy

This bird needs a forever home. I would advocate for that, rather then giving them advice. Thank you, for taking an active interest!

Mommies are always chew toys! When Sean was leaving for college, it took Sophie three seconds to go land on mom. ( rom) Nancy

No... Sophie has no idea what competition is. She loves us all for different reasons. We all have something to offer her, to complete her. I just understand her manipulative behavior. Nancy

Many of us have in common our greys don't go crazy with toys. WE... are their toys. I have spent a small fortune to encourage Sophie and toys. She is NOT going to love them, so I leave silly things on the countertop for her to destroy... and she goes crazy! Nancy

Dont give up! We are here for you! Nancy

Sean, my son, leaving for college this weekend. He has a long list of goals he wants me to " follow thru on". Most are reinforcing new words, which of course I will encourage. Several are telling her " NO", when she chews on something she shouldn't.( well of COURSE I tell her no and remove her). While I listened to all his goals for her, I didn't mention, all the goals I had for her and accomplished! My number one goal, was to have her step up and love our entire family. ( check) Number two goal, eat a healthy diet ( check) number three goal, associate words with meaning ( check) number four goal take a shower ( no check) While we were cleaning birdroom the other day, Sean pointed out, that Sophie may LOVE everyone, she repeats verbally only, anything I say, That kind of surprised me, but he is right...I guess I am important! Nancy

This is terrible, and hard to sit back and do nothing! Nancy

Ignoring the behavior, won't work alone. (even just rewarding the good behavior). You need to establish communication, that you don't like this behavior, nor will tolerate it, and its not acceptable! Kids always make fun how I run our home like the military. I guess I do... but they all stop and listen! Nancy